Improvement in amalgamators for ores



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON TV. KIRK AND GEORGE E. AYRES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

IMPROVEMENT lN AMALGAMATORS FOR ORES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,171, dated July 21,1874; application filed December 16, 1873.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SOLOMON W. KIRK and GEORGE R. AYREs, ofPhiladelphia, county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators for Ores,of which the following is a specification:

The object of our invention is to separate geld and other preciousmetals from their ores by producing an amalgam, and while doing this towash out and carry away with water all extraneous matters, and leave theamalgam clean and free, and to do this in a manner that is thorough,cheap, and rapid.

The machine embracing our improvements for the accomplishment of thisobject is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of one end of the machineor amalgamator, while Fig. 2 is an elevation of the other end thereof.Fig. 3 is a cross vertical section, and Fig. 4 a central verticallongitudinal section, of the same; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view indetail of the pinion by which motion is given to the main cylinder A ofthe machine.

The walls D D and the brace-rods P P P P constitute the frame to sustainand furnish bea gs for the hollow cast-iron cylinder A, provided withtwo heads, as shown. Gentrally through the two heads extends the hollowspindle O, the outer ends of which are provided with suitable hearingsin the walls 1) D. This spindle is not hollow all the way through, fromend to end, but in boring it out a small portion, midway its length, isleft solid, and on each side of this solid portion the hollow portionsare, in a regular manner, perforated with holes of suitable size, forthe purposes hereinafter explained. Upon one end of this hollow spindleor axleis fixed a cogwheel, g, by which the cylinder A is to be revolvedor oscillated by means of the double pinion g, which has a shaft of itsown to turn upon, as shown. The opposite end of the spindle O isfurnished with a lip, Q, to facilitate the discharge of muddy water; butthe end of that spindle bearing the cog-wheel 9 projects beyond it, andby means of a-suitable bushing, E, formsa close joint with the pipe J,which is provided for the introduction of number for the purposehereinafter specified,

and also with a longitudinal slot, F, extending clear through it fromend to end, and on the outside of the cylinder is attached to the same,

so as to cover the slot, the trough or recess G, which increases indepth from one end to the other, at the rate of, say, three-fourths ofan inch to every lineal foot of its length, and

is provided with .a discharge-orifice at 11. n

The cylinder A is provided with dischargeholes is k k, which may beclosed by wooden plugs, and a feed-hole, L, which is closed by a plate,as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the inner surface of the plate being flushwith the same surface of the cylinder itself. The pinion g is madesufficiently long for two divisions or parts, one of which is a fullone,'having a regular series of teeth, while the other has likewise aregular series; but it extends only half-way around, or less, and thepinion-shaft has sufficient play lengthwise so that, by means of thelever i and catch M, either the full or the mutilated portion of thepinion may be thrown into gear with the cog-wheel g, and so held inposition as may be desired. On the pinion-shaft is a band-pulley for thecommunication of power to the pinion.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows: The cylinder Ais duly charged with a quantity of prepared pulp, according to itscapacity, and with a quantity of mercury sufficient for amalgamation,with the precious metals contained therein, and the full portion of thepinion is thrown into gear with the cog-wheel g, and then the powerapplied, so as to cause the cylinder to make from fifteen to twentyrevolutions per minute, and the water is introduced through the pipe. .Tinto the hollow spindle G, from which it is forced through the holestherein into the interior of the cylinder A, to soften and wash thecontents of the same, and at the end of five or six hours or more thecontents will have become of a thin creamy consistence, the wrought-ironballs B acting as grinders to reduce and disintegrate the ores; andduring the operation the extraneous matter of lighter character willfloat in the water, and will be constantly discharged with it throughthe discharge end of the hollow spindle at Q. Water also bearing theserefuse matters will be discharged through the holes 70 k k. When thispart of the process has been completed, the mutilated portion of thepinion will be thrown into gear with the cog-wheel g, and will impart toit an irregular oscillating or rocking motion, and, the trough Gbeing atthe lowest point, the amalgam will be sifted through the slot F, andwhile this last operation is going on,fresh water continues to flow intothe cylinder and become loaded with refuse matter, and then bedischarged through the holes in the rear end of the hollow spindle andout at Q. In this operation the mercury will not flower, and at the endof it theama-lgam all ought to find its way into the trough G, and allother matters find their way outside of the cylinder in the form ofmuddy water; and then, by reason of the inclined bottom of the troughGr, upon removing the plug from H, the amalgam will be discharged in acondition ready for the retort.

We are aware that wrought-iron cylinders with wrought-iron balls havebeen heretofore used for pulverizing ores. We, therefore, disclaim themfor that purpose.

We are aware, also, that a revolving wooden barrel containing pieces ofwrought-iron for the purpose of taking up the chlorine, known as theFrieburg amalgamator, has been used for amalgamation, and we disclaimthat, also.

We are also aware that in the United States patent of F. N. Du Bois,dated April 3, 1866, No. 53,590, for an improved amalgamator, there isshown and described a hollow cylinin the solid central portion,constructed sub stantially as shown and described, for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination of the pinion 9, having two divisions and anadjustable shaft, as and.

for the purpose described, the cog-wheel g, the spindle O, and cylinderA, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and described.

3. The cylinder A, having the narrow slit F through its shell, extendingits length, and provided 1 with the trough G, having the discharge-holeH fastened. upon the outside thereof, so that said slit shall beopposite the center of the trough G, and so that there shall be on theoutside of the cylinder A, and inside the trough G, a pocket on eachside of the slit F for the retention of the amalgam, constructed andarranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

SOLOMON w. KIRK. one. B. AYRES.

Witnesses J. TYsoN, HIRAM KIRK.

